Where am I going to feed all these people?

I do not wish to go into the absolute hell that is attempting to put together a guest list, needless to say when the hairdresser puts my hair up on my wedding day, she'll have a heck of a lot less to deal with because of that little fiasco.

I am somewhat relieved at the moment, we have found a venue. That doesn't mean its over, that because of who I am, that I won't spend the next couple of weeks/months/year in negotiations with them. But we have at least found somewhere that checks a lot of boxes, and I can't begin to tell you how many checkboxes there are.

If you are reading this as a newly engaged girl/guy/relation of newly engaged guy or girl, be forewarned.. the venue thing is a nightmare. We are getting married in church, it was never up for debate, we just couldn't come to terms with a civil ceremony. This was the first checkbox and one that meant that we really had to limit our venue to somewhere within reach of our church.

We live in Swindon, Wiltshire and are getting married about a mile from home in a beautiful but very small church on a road that gives me nightmares. I am extraoardinarily scared that we may lose guests or an usher or two in a high vis. So our venue search was limited to somewhere within 20 minutes drive. I did suggest that some time out between church and venue was not a bad idea but I'm informed not all hire cars have sat-nav and that rescuing guests when they get lost in the maze of Swindon's badly signposted roundabouts was bad form.

So the checklist:-

Within 20 minutes of our church
Not difficult to find

Lets re-visit that guest list, not for us a small wedding. We are actually limited by our churches capacity thank goodness, or half of Lancashire, Ireland and Swindon would be coming to our soiree. The first rendition of the list had me on the floor with severe chest pains. "What the heck do you mean 140?"

Once we had got the list down to a number that didn't involve hoisting guests into the rafters to enjoy the ceremony, we were down to 100. I'm hyperventilating at this point, immediately 75% of the venues in our area have disappeared and my dream of a small initimate do have vanished into fresh air.

Within 20 minutes of our church
Not difficult to find
Capable of holding 100

Luckily availability wasn't a major issue.. we aren't getting married until the next millenium, it was unlikely that it was going to cause a problem but add it to the list just in case.

So I start looking with this simple list in mind. Really it can't be that difficult.. can it?

The disclaimer

Before I start blogging about my impending wedding, I need to add a disclaimer to my posts. I find the entire process absolutely intriguing, I find the industry that supplies those of us who are about to get spliced utterly horrifying. I'm sure, in fact positive, that over time I will find suppliers who I learn to trust but oh my, there are some sharks out there.

Add to that the truly strange things that go through your head when your contemplating spending 1/3 of your outstanding mortgage on one day, and the whole process takes on a slightly bizarre slant.

However, I haven't lost the plot.. at least not yet.. I do know what this is all about. There is a man in my life who I adore with all my heart. I can't wait to be his wife, the thought of spending the rest of my life with him is truly amazing. The thought of standing next to him in our church and promising to love, honour and (well the next bit is up for debate) till we get old and wrinkly is quite possibly the most amazing idea ever. My vows to him are held in the highest esteem, they will be the most important words I ever say as I dedicate my life to him. None of this is lost on me.

Hanging onto that should get me through the wedding issues, I'm praying it will help me stay calm when I recieve quotes that leave me struggling to breathe as my ribs explode in horror. I can't wait to be Mrs Johns, I just need to keep it together to get through the wedding and my blog is just really a way of keeping track of my sanity, maybe getting input and a light-hearted look at how the first day of married life seems to be the scariest.